Clinico-haematological characteristics of snakebites in inland Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

Snakebite victims who were seen at King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh over a five-year period were reviewed.

Thirty adult patients were identified but only twenty-two patients were evaluable.

The most eommon symptoms were local pain and swelling.

The most common physical signs were fang marks with edema and discoloration.

There were no deaths or neurological toxicities.

Coagulation abnormalities were detected in seven patients.

These were detected as early as two hours after the bite and took as long as nine days to resolve.

All patients were given antivenom.

Four patients received blood products transfusions.

Three patients developed local complications at the site of the antivenom injection.

We conclude that coagula-tion abnormalities secondary to snakebites are rela-tively common and should be carefully looked for.

Other characteristics of snakebites in the region are also discussed.